Book picks similar to
An Innocent Ruse by Mary Morrow
clean-romance
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Rosalind
Audrey Harrison - 2015
He has inherited the title and the debt that the selfish lives of his deceased brother and father created. He was forced to leave the home that he loved to try and save his dysfunctional family and their shared heritage. Facing bankruptcy, he has determined to keep his heritage at whatever cost. Only those closest to him know the real reason he is desperate to save his family home - the member of his family his father was ashamed off. Rosalind Johnson, is the eldest daughter of a 'cit', a man who has earned his fortune through business. As an ambitious father he is determined that his four daughters will marry the highest titles in the country, whether they like it or not, and he is prepared to pay to achieve his goal. Rosalind has no choice to marry a stranger and take on a life and Society that looked down on someone who came from trade. She would need all her resourcefulness to cope. Two people forced together because of circumstances that they did not create would be set for a shaky start at best, but with local gossip, illegitimate children and an alleged affair, things were never going to be quiet in the home of the Duke and Duchess of Sudworth. This is the first book of the Four Sisters' Series. Each book exploring the lives of the Johnson sisters.
The Jilted Earl
Kelly Anne Bruce - 2016
It wasn't that she didn't want a husband, she just hated the crowds and false joy of the parties. And then when she finally met a man she knew she could love, he was quickly taken by another. She knew she was unremarkable compared to the other young women in society, but she still managed some hope that she would marry for love. Nicholas of Meadcaster was only an earl. This was the second strike against him at the moment. The first was that he had been quite ill - to the point of near death - and he was still recovering. His brother encouraged him to go to London to find a suitable wife. A wife who would care for him should his illness return. Nicholas makes some poor choices and Isabella is forgotten. When his choices haunt him, will Nicholas look for a new path or wallow in misery? Will Isabella find the courage to be bold and claim the man she is falling in love with?
A Secret Passion
Sophia Nash - 2004
To escape, she flees for the country, where she meets a handsome, if stubborn, man-and soon finds that when it rains, it pours...
Stay With Me
Reina Torres - 2016
His old life was calling him back. A chance meeting would put them on a new path - together. Hayden Samuels worked hard to make something of himself. Unable to follow in his father’s footsteps he found work that gave him a purpose and joy. Now he has to return and tell his father that he wants to live his life on his own terms, even if that strains their relationship to the breaking point. But when the stage rolls into town he comes face to face with a young woman that makes him think twice about leaving. Edythe Devon had worked for her father for years and now she wants a life of her own. Taking a chance by moving to the town of Sweetwater Springs, Montana, she arrives just in time to meet a young man who makes her dream of more than just ‘getting by’ on her own. But there are those who would keep the two apart and a family emergency might just divide them for good. Is there enough between them to bring them back together before it’s too late? This sweet Western romance, set in the time after Debra Holland’s book, Beneath Montana’s Sky, and before the Brides of the West series, includes a number of friendly faces from Sweetwater Springs and will introduce you to new friends as well. Click the 'Buy Now With 1-Click" button to read "Stay With Me"
Just Perfect
JoMarie DeGioia - 2013
William Chesterton, the Earl of Chester, might be the perfect gentleman, but his feelings for Constance Bridgewater are anything but gentlemanly.Constance Bridgewater, the daughter of the late Earl of Bridgewater, might be the perfect lady, but her feelings for the Earl of Chester are anything but ladylike.They both know that if they were together, everything would be just perfect.So what is keeping them apart?
Refining Felicity
Marion Chesney - 1988
Lady Felicity Vane 19, unwilling client, lures unwitting Lord James Bremmer. Lord Ravenswood 30s quietly donates his town furnishings and servants despite his fiancée Betty.
The Cockermouth Mail
Dinah Dean - 1982
She had no choice but to accept a position as governess in Cockermouth, a remote town in the English Lake District.Resolved to make the best of her bleak future, Dorcas was not surprised when the stage-coach she was travelling in was waylaid by an accident. She and her fellow passengers were forced to seek refuge in a nearby inn. So much did she enjoy the assorted company, the she found herself wishing to be stranded forever.One passenger in particular, the dashing Colonel, Sir Richard Severall, was of special interest to Dorcas. And it seemed as if she was of special interest to him. Fate had delivered her into the hands of love. If only she could be certain Sir Richard returned her affection.
Claire, After All
Karen J. Hasley - 2014
Commissioned by her widowed father, she descends on the green Sussex hills with three assignments. Ready Loden Hall for her father's arrival as the new earl. Find the perfect husband for her gorgeous half-sister. Acquire a tutor for her rapscallion twin brothers. At twenty-eight Claire--now Lady Claire--has had years of experience running an orderly household in India and cannot imagine England will be any different. Older. Wiser. That's Claire.But England refuses to cooperate with Claire's well laid plans. How did beautiful Loden Hall become such a ruin and how will she make it right in time? Why is her usually cooperative sister so resistant to Claire's recommendation for a husband? Why are her brothers so unhappy that stowing away on a merchant ship holds more appeal than her loving care at home? Really, if it weren't for the unexpectedly practical advice of her neighbor the Marquis of Symonton, she would feel quite alone.For Claire, focused on the tangled knots of her own family, Symonton is the perfect ally. Who better to offer guidance than a man savvy enough to maneuver his way through society for six and thirty years without being trapped into matrimony? And how fortunate that the man is entertained by her family's exploits! But even with Symonton, Claire manages to get it wrong. It's not her family he's interested in and amusement is not what he feels. The man has other plans entirely. Maturity and experience are all well and good, but Claire will learn that neither is as valuable as love.Book I of The Penwarrens, a series of 3 light-hearted Victorian romances.Claire, After All ~ Listening to Abby ~ Jubilee Rose
His Impassioned Proposal
Aileen Fish - 2012
When he finally does, he is so far in his cups as to not remember the event the next morning! Miss Jane Marwick can't decide if she has wasted her heart on the wrong man or if he just needs some time to recover from too many life-changing events.Stephen Lumley isn't sure he's capable of being a good husband to any woman, but he only has a few months to convince himself and Jane he is worthy of her love, or she'll be off to London to find a man who is. He's not certain what his future will bring, only that he needs Jane in it.Genre: Sweet Traditional Regency RomanceLength: Novella (about 30,000 words)
The Governess 3
Ellise C. Weaver - 2013
But her biggest challenge will be their father; masterful and strong in everything—especially his kiss. Poor and without dowry—and even worse—now orphaned, Miss Carly Blakemore is thrown into the Victorian world without aid. Carly is forced to seek a position as governess in the house of Lord Huntington, the Earl of Dunfordshire—a man alone in his own right—and under suspicion for the tragic murder of his well-known and adulteress wife. His governess’s honesty and forthrightness quickly offend his noble person, and he finds himself reeling from her constant evaluation of his lack of parenting skills. However, in the midst of his resentments, he finds himself strangely drawn in by her very no-nonsense ways that drive him to madness. Carly stands her ground in head-to-head battles of will that take her to the brink of dismissal. Carly and the earl continually fight the feelings growing between them. Both are oblivious to the clouds of deceit and intrigue that are growing around the manor house, some bent upon removing the beautiful, headstrong governess permanently. A final desperate chase leads to an interception of a ship upon the high seas headed for the Mediterranean and a secret society of white-slave traders, opening the way for this book’s sequel.
The Notorious Flynns Bundle
Jess Michaels - 2015
* * *The Notorious Flynns Bundle:A new duke with an inherited bride, a lady with a secret desire and a gentleman determined to destroy himself. Along with their friends, the Flynns are not your average family. Pick up the bestselling series readers are raving about.The Other Duke: Rafe Flynn has just inherited an unexpected dukedom and an unwilling bride. Can he overcome Serafina McPhee's troubled past and prove to her that love is worth fighting for?The Scoundrel's Lover: Annabelle Flynn needs a proper husband to combat the bad reputations of her brothers. What she wants is Marcus Rivers, proprietor of an erotic club and the most improper man of all.The Widow Wager: Crispin Flynn has been riding a dangerous path to ruin since he lost the woman he loved. But when he wakes up with widow Gemma Quinn in his bed, he just might have to change his way of life to win her.No Gentleman for Georgina: Georgina Hickson has lived a life of utter propriety without any success in the marriage mart. But she has a secret, she has been in love with Paul Abbot, the manager of an erotic club, for years. Can one stolen night give her everything she ever wanted?A Marquis for Mary: Mary Quinn is almost out of time. If she cannot find a proper husband before the end of the Season, she will have to return to her father's home and his dangerous plans. But a stolen kiss in the garden with the handsome and troubled Edward, Marquis of Woodley, may solve all her problems and put her on the path to the love of her life.
Christmas at Malton Manor
Pam Lecky - 2017
Kate Hamilton is companion to the dullest and meanest woman in England, but she is looking forward to going home for Christmas and her sister Mary’s wedding. When her employer refuses to release her, Colonel Robert Woodgate comes to the rescue. Robert now owns Malton Manor, Kate’s old home in the village of Malton. Recently returned from the Boer War and recovering from his injuries, Robert has been reclusive and morose. Clashing several times over his plans and sweeping changes in the village, their relationship has always been tempestuous. But when Kate returns to Malton, she discovers her sister’s wedding is to take place at Malton Manor and everyone is convinced the Colonel has an ulterior motive. Can Kate resist the lure of her old home and the memories it holds? And does she have the courage to break down Robert’s defences to find happiness at last?
Finding her Everlasting Love
Carol Colyer - 2020
She now has to find a new home for them and keep them safe at all costs. Under the pressure of losing her sisters, she answers an advert from a lonely rancher. However, to ensure a positive outcome, she will keep some secrets from him, risking losing everything. When all the lies and the secrets are revealed, will there be any chance for their relationship to thrive? Will she manage to keep her promise to her late parents or will her sisters be ill-fated forever?Marcus Steed has been alone for a very long time after he was forced to run away from home when he was 13. He has been struggling to survive his whole life, and he has neglected to actually live it. Now for the first time in a long time, he can actually relax and reap the fruits of his hard work. Reflecting on his life, what he really wants - and needs - is to share everything with a woman he could trust and depend on. Will he find true love or will he end up devastated and disappointed, when he discovers the truth about Colleen?Colleen and Marcus's relationship seems to have no future. Colleen is too busy caring for her sisters' survival, while Marcus has to deal with his own demons. Affection is not his key strength, and loveless marriage seems to be like a dead-end for her. Will Marcus lower his guard and allow Colleen to approach him? Could Colleen regain his trust and restore his faith to love?"Finding her Everlasting Love" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Twelve Lords for Christmas: A Holiday Historical Romance Anthology
Anthea LawsonErica Taylor - 2021
Paired up with his grandmother’s companion and charged with bringing Christmas to a lonely house, will he come to believe in himself—and love?The Mistletoe Trap - Eve PendleA spicy-hot story of a heroine with a flair for enterprising embroidery and a botanist single father hero. Can a scandal that compromises Amelia's reputation give their love a second chance?A Most Inconvenient Earl - Claire DelacroixWhen Eurydice Goodenham unexpectedly proposes a marriage of convenience to Sebastian Montgomery, Earl of Rockmorton, the notorious rake is intrigued. Sebastian soon realizes that the unpredictable Eurydice is the perfect match for him—but can he convince his skeptical bride to take a chance on love?The Lady's Guide to Mistletoe and Mayhem - Emmanuelle de MaupassantOn the run until she receives her inheritance, Ursula takes on the identity of an etiquette teacher and heads to Castle Dunrannoch to whip her 'young charge' into shape. But the long-lost heir is a whole lot more than she's bargained for!A Countess for Christmas - Anthea LawsonMiss Cecilia Fairfax dreads the upcoming holidays, especially when her brother brings home an unexpected guest. But of all the blessings of the season, sometimes the most unexpected is love.Miss Isabella Thaws a Frosty Lord - Larissa LyonsMistletoe kisses grant a blind heroine and a frosty hero a chance at happiness during a winter house party.Her Accidental Groom - Nadine MillardLady Natalia Soronsky and Lord Benjamin Strafford started out as enemies and ended up as co-conspirators in a faux betrothal. But the longer they continue the ruse, the more they start to wonder just how false their feelings are.Christmas Spirits - Jane CharlesWhen Benjamin Storm, Earl of Kenley, is sent to Scotland to procure a missing whisky shipment, he encounters the most unusual smuggler.Joy to the World - Nicole ZoltackUnbeknownst to Eliza Berkeley, the man she thought she was going to marry was not Stephen Huntington, the Duke of Wyndale. Will a match formed through deceit blossom into love this Christmas?To Fall for a Duke by Christmas - Sadie BosqueA reluctant duke and a charming commoner devise a plan to serve their own needs. A false relationship is supposed to be their salvation... Until love intervenes.What If I Still Love You - Erica TaylorAfter a failed elopement ten years earlier, Henry, Earl of Carrington, and Anna, the widowed Viscountess Rycroft, are reunited at his aunt’s Twelfth Night party. Can this star-crossed pair find their way back to each other?Christmas Promises - Brenda HiattWhen Lord Vandover leaves for London, he promises his grandmother he will return with a bride. Unfortunately, with each simpering debutante he meets he regrets that promise more—until he encounters the lovely Miss Holly Paxton.
Lord Love a Duke
Renée Reynolds - 2013
He hastily organizes a house party with a guest list that includes a wide-range of potential suitors, but unfortunately for the duke, his sister, Lady Miranda, has no desire to enter a union yet. Instead, her agenda for the dreaded party calls for the help of her closest friend, Lady Juliet Quinn, to thwart and confound her brother's plans by orchestrating a series of pranks meant to humiliate and confound him . . . if only he would cooperate and be the victim.Someone at the house party is in a marriage-minded way, despite his best intentions otherwise: the duke himself. He has secretly admired Lady Juliet for several years now, but she is off limits in many ways; not only is she friend to Miranda, she is also the sister of his close friend, Charles Quinn, Earl of Bristol. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the tiny problem that Lady Juliet has vowed to avoid marriage, wanting no part of the typical unions of their set based on convenience, money, or titles and lands.With nothing at the party going according to anyone's carefully laid plans, and most of the guests participating in their own plots and schemes, the final prank yields even more surprises. Whatever is a duke to do?Lord Love a Duke is the first book in the Regency-based Lords of Oxford series, stories about the lives and loves of a group of five peers of the realm who met at university and formed a fast and lasting friendship.